Best Irish Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional & Meaningful Surnames

Looking for a unique and meaningful Irish last name? This comprehensive list will guide you through the best Irish surnames, exploring their origins, meanings, and historical significance. Whether you're searching for a name that reflects your heritage, embodies a specific quality, or simply sounds beautiful, this guide will help you find the perfect fit. From classic and common names like O'Connell and Murphy to rarer and more distinctive names like O'Brien and O'Driscoll, this list covers a wide range of options to inspire you.
1. **O'Connell**: "descendant of Connell", a common Irish name meaning "wolf" or "strong-willed."

2. **Murphy**: "descendant of Murchadh", meaning "sea warrior" or "sea defender."

3. **Kelly**: "descendant of Ceallach", meaning "bright-headed" or "warlike."

4. **Ryan**: "descendant of Ríain", meaning "little king" or "kingly."

5. **O'Brien**: "descendant of Brian", meaning "strong" or "noble."

6. **Walsh**: "descendant of Uallachán", meaning "powerful" or "strong."

7. **O'Neill**: "descendant of Niall", meaning "champion" or "cloud."

8. **McCarthy**: "son of Carthaigh", meaning "lover" or "dear one."

9. **O'Reilly**: "descendant of Raghallaigh", meaning "strong ruler" or "fierce king."

10. **O'Connor**: "descendant of Conchobhar", meaning "desirable" or "wolf-hound."

11. **O'Sullivan**: "descendant of Súilleabháin", meaning "dark-eyed" or "black-eyed."

12. **O'Driscoll**: "descendant of Diarmaid", meaning "exalted" or "great."

13. **O'Malley**: "descendant of Máel-Mheagáin", meaning "chief of the plain" or "bald-headed."

14. **O'Shea**: "descendant of Ó Séaghdha", meaning "descendant of Síodhachán", meaning "peaceful" or "gentle."

15. **O'Toole**: "descendant of Ó Tuathail", meaning "descendant of Tuathal", meaning "people" or "nation."

16. **Nolan**: "descendant of Nuallán", meaning "champion" or "cloud."

17. **Burke**: "descendant of Bourc", meaning "strong" or "noble."

18. **Power**: "descendant of Mac an Bhaird", meaning "son of the poet" or "bard's son."

19. **O'Donovan**: "descendant of Domhnallán", meaning "world" or "little world."

20. **O'Flaherty**: "descendant of Flaithbheartach", meaning "noble" or "princely."

21. **O'Callaghan**: "descendant of Caollaghan", meaning "youthful" or "young."

22. **O'Shaughnessy**: "descendant of Ó Séaghdha", meaning "descendant of Síodhachán", meaning "peaceful" or "gentle."

23. **O'Hanlon**: "descendant of Ó hAnluain", meaning "descendant of Anluan", meaning "noble" or "princely."

24. **Daly**: "descendant of Ó Dálaigh", meaning "descendant of Dálach", meaning "descendant of the wood."

25. **O'Meara**: "descendant of Ó Méara", meaning "descendant of Méara", meaning "chief" or "leader."

26. **O'Rourke**: "descendant of Ó Ruairc", meaning "descendant of Ruairc", meaning "red-haired" or "red."

27. **O'Brien**: "descendant of Brian", meaning "strong" or "noble."

28. **Fitzgerald**: "son of Gerald", meaning "strong ruler" or "fierce spear."

29. **Brady**: "descendant of Ó Bradaigh", meaning "descendant of Bradaigh", meaning "broad" or "wide."

30. **Flynn**: "descendant of Ó Floinn", meaning "descendant of Floinn", meaning "red-haired" or "red."

31. **Farrell**: "descendant of Ó Fearghaill", meaning "descendant of Fearghall", meaning "brave" or "warrior."

32. **Doyle**: "descendant of Ó Dubhghaill", meaning "descendant of Dubhghaill", meaning "dark stranger" or "black foreigner."

33. **Fitzpatrick**: "son of Patrick", meaning "nobleman" or "patrician."

34. **O'Carroll**: "descendant of Ó Cearbhaill", meaning "descendant of Cearbhaill", meaning "dark-haired" or "black."

35. **O'Higgins**: "descendant of Ó hEachthighearn", meaning "descendant of Eachthighearn", meaning "horse lord" or "master of horses."

36. **O'Malley**: "descendant of Máel-Mheagáin", meaning "chief of the plain" or "bald-headed."

37. **O'Reilly**: "descendant of Raghallaigh", meaning "strong ruler" or "fierce king."

38. **MacMahon**: "son of Máighmeán", meaning "son of the plain" or "son of the field."

39. **O'Toole**: "descendant of Ó Tuathail", meaning "descendant of Tuathal", meaning "people" or "nation."

40. **Maher**: "descendant of Ó Maichir", meaning "descendant of Machair", meaning "plain" or "field."

41. **Lynch**: "descendant of Ó Loingsigh", meaning "descendant of Loingsigh", meaning "shipman" or "sailor."

42. **O'Connor**: "descendant of Conchobhar", meaning "desirable" or "wolf-hound."

43. **Doherty**: "descendant of Ó Dochartaigh", meaning "descendant of Dochartach", meaning "dark-haired" or "black."

44. **O'Dowd**: "descendant of Ó Dubhda", meaning "descendant of Dubhda", meaning "black" or "dark."

45. **O'Brien**: "descendant of Brian", meaning "strong" or "noble."

46. **O'Sullivan**: "descendant of Súilleabháin", meaning "dark-eyed" or "black-eyed."

47. **O'Neill**: "descendant of Niall", meaning "champion" or "cloud."

48. **O'Flaherty**: "descendant of Flaithbheartach", meaning "noble" or "princely."

49. **O'Shaughnessy**: "descendant of Ó Séaghdha", meaning "descendant of Síodhachán", meaning "peaceful" or "gentle."

50. **O'Hanlon**: "descendant of Ó hAnluain", meaning "descendant of Anluan", meaning "noble" or "princely."